The 2020 Football season is winding down and all six Cherokee County Football teams have completed their 2020 campaigns. These rankings are determined by the Cooper Rankings, a system that factors average points for, average points against, and strength of schedule for each team. The “composite rankings” is a simple way to predict a matchup. For example, Woodstock (8.8) would be a 5 point favorite over Etowah (3.8).  

6. Etowah

(1-9 overall) (0-4 Cherokee County record) 

Composite Ranking: 3.8

Best game: 14-13 loss to Creekview

The Eagles seemed to suffer more from the lack of a preseason than any other Cherokee County team. That is no surprise, especially considering that Head Coach Matt Kemper had to install his offense on the run. The Eagles allowed 25 points per game, and were only able to average 8.3 points per game on offense. The saving grace for the Eagles is that they played the toughest schedule in the county. We expect the Eagles won’t be at the bottom of our rankings next season. 

5. Sequoyah

(4-6 overall) (0-4 Cherokee County record) 

Composite Ranking: 8.4

Best game: 28-17 win over Riverwood

The Chiefs 2020 season took a complete u-turn after the loss to Creekview. Sequoyah put together 4 wins over their next 5 games, the only loss coming to the region winning River Ridge Knights. Although the Chiefs should have been the 4th team for Region 7-6A in the playoffs, a new bylaw due to a COVID-19 cancellation led to Sequoyah being left out. The biggest knock on the Sequoyah season is that they played the easiest schedule out of all 6 county schools. With some young talent stepping up big for the Chiefs, we are excited to see the 2021 Sequoyah team. 

4. Woodstock

(3-7 overall) (1-4 Cherokee County Record) 

Composite Ranking: 8.8

Best game: 42-6 win over Campbell

The Wolverines finished 3-7 for the 3rd year in a row, eventually leading to Coach Brent Budde parting ways with the program. The Wolverines had one of the most talented rosters coming into the 2020 season with names like David Daniel, Wes Bruno, and OJ Dupree just to name a few. However, the Wolverines faced the 3rd toughest schedule in the County and came up just short in a number of games. The Wolverines will be one of the biggest question marks moving into 2021, but with young talent like Dan Comeau and Carson Gray, Woodstock should be back in the hunt. 

3. Creekview

(7-3 overall) (3-2 Cherokee County Record)

Composite Ranking: 37.1 

Best Game: 24-0 win over Sequoyah 

The Grizzlies reclaimed their spot as a top program after a down year in 2019. Creekview relied heavily on their defense, ending the season only allowing 12.3 points per game. The Achilles heel for Creekview was their offense, which only managed to tally 18.7 points per game. Creekview finished 2nd in region 7-6A and faced a physical Sprayberry team in the playoffs that ended their 2020 season. Creekview has consistently been a top program in Cherokee County, and expectations will be high for 2021. 

2. River Ridge

(11-1 overall) (4-0 Cherokee County Record) 

Composite Ranking: 48

Best Game: 42-10 win over Rome (Playoffs) 

2020 has been a year full of firsts, and the River Ridge 2020 campaign embodies that perfectly. The Knights had not beaten a Cherokee County team in their 11 year history, nor had they won a playoff game. Both of those facts changed this year. The Knights consistently improved and climbed up the rankings. The most impressive game of the season for the Knights, and potentially any Cherokee County team, was the 42-10 domination over Rome in the second round of the playoffs. Despite all of this, the Knights played the 2nd easiest schedule in Cherokee County, pushing them down to the second spot in the rankings. The 2021 Knights will be returning loads of talent, and River Ridge fans have plenty to be excited about moving forward. 

1. Cherokee

(8-3 overall) (4-0 Cherokee County Record) 

Composite Ranking: 58.3

Best Game: 14-12 victory over Cartersville

The Cherokee Warriors entered the 2020 season with a historic 2019 campaign and an incredibly difficult schedule to deal with. The Warriors faced matchups with state powers like Rome and Cartersville. The Warriors found a way to beat Rome, Creekview, and Cartersville in back to back to back weeks. The Warriors eventually stumbled twice in their region schedule with losses to Roswell and Milton. The Warriors ended their campaign with a loss to North Gwinnett in the first round of the playoffs. The Warriors benefit from the 2nd toughest schedule in Cherokee County, as well as a defense that held teams to 17.2 points per game and an offense that scored an average of 28.1 per game against some of the top programs in the state.